We’re in the heart of trade season. With the NFL trade deadline just a few days away on November 4, teams are scrambling to make last-minute deals to add pieces to their rosters as the season continues to heat up.
The Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets kept the party going on Wednesday, swapping players and picks in a mutually-beneficial deal. The Eagles sent WR John Metchie III along with a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for CB Michael Carter II and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Metchie, a former second-round pick, had been previously acquired from the Texans during the preseason.
The Eagles had been rather openly scouring the trade market for help at cornerback, and now they get it in Carter. In recent seasons, Carter has emerged as one of the better slot cornerbacks in the league in New York, and he heads to a Philadelphia team that could use some help in the secondary.
Rookie Philadelphia Eagles UDFA WR Darius Cooper Predicted to Get Bigger Role in the Wake of the Trade
Emilee Chinn/GettyPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 04: Darius Cooper #80 of the Philadelphia Eagles kneels before the NFL 2025 game between Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 04, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
After news of the Metchie trade broke, Zach Berman, the Eagles’ beat reporter for The Athletic, offered his thoughts on the move. One thing that stood out to him is the trust the Eagles are placing in rookie undrafted free agent WR Darius Cooper.
“This is continued evidence of [the Eagles’] belief in Darius Cooper as a depth piece at wide receiver,” Berman said on Twitter/X. “That was evident when he made the [53-man roster], earned early playing time, and was activated from IR late in week when A.J. Brown’s status appeared in doubt. The idea behind trading for Metchie made sense. Cooper capitalized on multiple checkpoints through the summer. Injury slowed him down a bit, but he’s WR4 for the Eagles.”
Cooper played his college ball at Tarleton State, where he had 76 receptions for 1,449 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2024. So far in the NFL, he’s appeared in four games for the Eagles, mostly on special teams.
The top of the Eagles’ depth chart at receiver is set with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson. With Metchie now in New York, Cooper slides into that fourth receiver role. While his number won’t be called on offense often, he’ll be relied upon in some key situations, and the Philadelphia coaching staff clearly trusts him.
Will the Philadelphia Eagles Make Any Other Midseason Trades?
Eagles GM Howie Roseman is one of the most aggressive general managers in the league. He’s never afraid to make a move to upgrade the talent on his team or help them by patching an area of need, so watch for him to make another move before the deadline.
Philadelphia was in the market for both a cornerback and an edge defender as we approach the trade deadline. Cornerback was taken care of with the trade for Carter, but watch the Eagles to see if they make a move for a pass rusher in the coming days.
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